Introduction. A. Marriage is part of the extraordinary eternal plan of God

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2 Ephesians 5:25-32

3 Introduction A. Marriage is part of the extraordinary eternal plan of God B. The first wedding was a prophetic type of our redemption from sin by Jesus Christ

4 Introduction C. Human sexuality and marriage illustrates God s love and purpose for His Church 1. To Adam and Eve Genesis 1: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

5 Introduction C. Human sexuality and marriage illustrates God s love and purpose for His Church - continued 2. To Noah and his sons Genesis 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

6 Introduction C. Human sexuality and marriage illustrates God s love and purpose for His Church - continued 3. To the church John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. Psalm 72:19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

7 Introduction D. Marriage in the Bible culminates with the marriage between Christ and His bride Revelation 19:6-9 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

8 Introduction D. Marriage in the Bible culminates with the marriage between Christ and His bride cont d Revelation 19:6-9 continued 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. Are you prepared to meet Christ?

9 Ephesians 5: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

10 Ephesians 5: continued 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

11 Introduction E. Marriages based on mere feeling or convenience will likely fail F. The union between Christ and His people must be a real living vital union John 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

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13 Introduction G. We need to understand the significance of Biblical shadows Colossians 2: Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

14 I. The Great Mystery: The Origin Of Romantic Love A. The Old Testament has many prophetic types that prefigure Christ and His bride B. Originates in the heart of God in eternity past Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

15 I. The Great Mystery: The Origin Of Romantic Love C. Present in the beginning of mankind Genesis 2: And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

16 I. The Great Mystery: The Origin Of Romantic Love C. Present in the beginning of mankind Genesis 2: continued 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

17 I. The Great Mystery: The Origin Of Romantic Love D. The first shadow shown in Adam and Eve 1. Eve taken out of the first Adam before she becomes his bride

18 I. The Great Mystery: The Origin Of Romantic Love John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

19 I. The Great Mystery: The Origin Of Romantic Love D. The first shadow shown in Adam and Eve 1. Eve taken out of the first Adam before she becomes his bride 2. We are born again by the pierced body of Christ before we become His bride

20 I. The Great Mystery: The Origin Of Romantic Love D. Another shadow shown in Rebekah and Isaac (Genesis 24) 1. A servant sent by Isaac s father 2. Rebekah goes based on the testimony of the servant 3. She is called out to be the wife of the son of promise

21 I. The Great Mystery: The Origin Of Romantic Love What would have happened to Rebekah if she had refused the invitation of the servant to come marry the Son of Promise? What will happen to us if we refuse the invitation to come to Christ? Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

22 II. The Mystery Of Our Union With Divinity A. In light of the contrasts. There is 1. An human nature and Divine nature 2. An earthly body and there is a heavenly body 3. A corruptible body and an incorruptible body 4. A natural body and there is spiritual body One is the shadow of good things to come, one is the substance

23 II. The Mystery Of Our Union With Divinity B. Marriage is a union of two into one Mark 10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 1. How a husband treats his wife is how he is treating himself 2. How a husband treats his wife is how he is living for Christ

24 II. The Mystery Of Our Union With Divinity C. In our relationship with Christ as His Bride we are His Body Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 1 Corinthians 12: For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

25 II. The Mystery Of Our Union With Divinity D. Because we are part of His Body, we have part of the Divine nature 2 Peter 1:3-4 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

26 II. The Mystery Of Our Union With Divinity E. Because we have part of his Divine nature, the Holy Spirit, we can show forth God s glory 2 Corinthians 3: Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

27 II. The Mystery Of Our Union With Divinity F. We are one with Christ as Christ is with God John 17: That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

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29 III. The Mystery Of Our Union With Eternity A. Christ, the eternal God, became like us John 1:14a And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us Hebrews 2: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

30 III. The Mystery Of Our Union With Eternity B. We will bear His image in Heaven 1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

31 III. The Mystery Of Our Union With Eternity C. We will have the same attributes as Christ 1. The example of Christ s glorified body 2. The example of Moses and Elijah 1 Corinthians 15: So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

32 IV. The Mystery Of Our Eternal Destiny A. Hebrew marriage in Biblical times 1. Man would go to the woman s father 2. Woman would prepare four cups, three would be filled 3. A amount of dowry would be set 4. The woman would accept by sipping from the man s cup 5. The man would go a prepare a dwelling place 6. The man would come with the wedding party to take his bride home

33 IV. The Mystery Of Our Eternal Destiny B. The example of Christ Matthew 26: And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

34 IV. The Mystery Of Our Eternal Destiny B. The example of Christ John 14:1-3 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

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